Prep

How long does canned meat last?

FoodKeeper gives canned meat 5 years unopened, as a guide to quality. Once opened, that's 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.

Throw away, without tasting, any can that's bulging, leaking, heavily rusted or deeply dented, or that spurts when opened.

How to store it

Read the label before you put it away. USDA says not all canned goods are shelf stable: some canned ham and seafood aren't safe at room temperature and will say keep refrigerated. Those go in the refrigerator and don't get the time shown here.

USDA says temperatures below 85°F are best, and to avoid anywhere above or beside the stove, under the sink, or in a damp garage or basement. USDA says unused food may be refrigerated in the can, but a glass or plastic container keeps it tasting better.

What to look for

Meat is a low-acid food, so treat a damaged can seriously. If it hisses loudly when opened or the contents spurt out, don't taste it. Double-bag it and put it in an outdoor trash can.

Throw a can away, without tasting, if it's bulging or swollen, leaking, heavily rusted or deeply dented, or if it hisses loudly or spurts when opened. USDA says a small dent on a can that's otherwise in good shape should be safe; a deep dent is one you can lay your finger into. Surface rust you can rub off isn't serious, but rust inside means don't eat the food. Double-bag anything suspect and put it in an outdoor trash can.

Worth knowing

FoodKeeper gives canned meat 5 years. USDA's wider chart gives 2 to 5 years for low-acid cans, and it includes meat and poultry, so treat 5 years as the top of the range.

USDA FoodKeeper says: “Canned items will be safe to eat well past the 'use-by' or 'best by' date as long as the can shows no dents, rust, or swelling.”

Similar foods

From preppantry.app. Checked 2 November 2026. Independent tool, not official advice.

How it works

FoodKeeper is USDA's food storage database. Its figures are guides to quality for food stored at cool room temperature, not safety cut-offs, and we show them as USDA gives them. FoodKeeper counts this from the date of purchase. Opened times start when you open the pack.

Where FoodKeeper gives no figure, we say so instead of guessing. The date printed on a package is the manufacturer's, and it's about quality except on infant formula.

Common questions

How long does canned meat last unopened?

5 years, according to USDA FoodKeeper, as a guide to best quality. FoodKeeper counts this from the date of purchase.

How long does canned meat keep once opened?

FoodKeeper gives no figure for an opened pack in the pantry. 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator.

Does canned meat go bad after the date on the package?

USDA says canned items will be safe well past the date as long as the can shows no dents, rust or swelling. Quality can drop with time, so use the oldest first.

What should I look for before using canned meat?

Meat is a low-acid food, so treat a damaged can seriously. If it hisses loudly when opened or the contents spurt out, don't taste it. Double-bag it and put it in an outdoor trash can.

Sources

Checked on 2 November 2026. This is an independent tool and not official advice. See sources and method.

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